It is that time of year again when I start thinking about spring. Besides the welcome thaw in the weather, spring means library statistics! It is the time of year when librarians need to get annual reports on library activity to the state and their governing boards. So while I enjoy the first hints of warm weather and the excited chatter of birds, it also a time spent gathering numbers and sweating over the calculator. Librarians even have workshops on doing annual reports. Misery loves company they say.
The numbers are in for 2009 and they do tell a story. I don’t want to bury you in a blizzard of numbers so I will limit myself to a few key statistics.
- 172,424 visitors to the library in 2009 which is over 500 visitors per-day.
- 368,015 items were circulated to customers which is an 8.5% icrease over 2008.
- 20,271 Internet sessions were logged by customers on our computers.
- 4,397 children attended story times. This was an increase of 860 over 2008.
- 4,353 children learned about the importance of reading through our programs for the schools and daycare centers.
- 1,473 children participated in the summer reading program.
- 1,600 people attended 19 events during our community wide read of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. The programs were made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Looking back on 2009 it was a busy year for the library. The Board of Trustees approved a small renovation including new carpeting throughout. The lobby floor was restored and the Children and Teen areas received new furnishings. Despite being closed for nearly three weeks our business was up.
The library also began winter Sunday hours in from 1 – 5 p.m. in 2009. They started off slow but are now a busy day just like any other.
What’s in store for the library in 2010? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are providing us with funds to purchase new computers for public Internet. The landscaping along Wolske Bay Rd. will be restored. The public restrooms will be refurbished. The Youth Department is increasing their outreach to daycares and the Menomonie Middle School. “Reading in the Dog House” where reluctant readers can read to a trained therapy dog is launched. The library is also on the list to receive expanded Internet bandwidth through funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the state of Wisconsin. I am excited about 2010 because I see the library continuing to offer a diverse selection of materials and programs. Please stop by often this year.
